A free-wheeling look at the
science and spirituality of the stars, ranging from the center of our solar
system to the farthest reaches of space

Do a little armchair space travel,
rub elbows with alien life forms, and stretch your mind to the furthest
corners of our uncharted universe. With this astonishing guide book, The
Stars of Heaven, you need not be an astronomer to explore the mysteries
of stars and their profound meaning for human existence.

Stars have fascinated humankind
since the dawn of history and have allowed us to transcend ordinary lives
in our literature, art, and religions. In fact, humans have always looked
to the stars as a source of inspiration and transcendence that lifts us
beyond the boundaries of ordinary intuition. In the tradition of One Two
Three... Infinity, Pickover tackles a range of topics from stellar evolution
to the fundamental and awe-inspiring reasons why the universe permits life
to flourish. Where did we come from? What is the universe's ultimate fate?
Pickover alternates sections that explaining the mysteries of the cosmos
with sections that dramatize mind-expanding concepts through a fictional
dialog between futuristic humans and their alien peers who embark on a
journey beyond the reader's wildest imagination. This highly accessible
and entertaining approach turns an intimidating subject into a scientific
game open to all dreamers.

Told in Clifford Pickover's inimitable
blend of fascinating state-of-the-art science and whimsical science fiction,
and packed with numerous diagrams and illustrations, The Stars of Heaven
unfolds a world of paradox and mystery, one that will intrigue anyone who
has ever pondered the night sky with wonder.